Refill for hair-shaping appliance

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a refill (10) for an appliance, notably a hair-shaping appliance, the refill comprising a fixing means able to collaborate with a complimentary member belonging to a receiving structure of the appliance, the fixing means of the refill comprising two profile elements (14, 15) able to engage in an insertion guide of the receiving structure and between them defining a space in which one or more members of the appliance are able to engage.

The present invention relates to appliances that use a refill to operateand more particularly but not exclusively to appliances for treating thehair such as straightening irons.

The refill contains for example a product to be applied to the region tobe treated, and optionally also an applicator that comes into contactwith the zone on which the product is intended to be deposited.

International applications WO 2009/078046 and WO 2015/097626 discloses arefill housed in a seat of a hair treatment appliance.

Patent application US 2013/0233335 and international application WO2016/107828 also discloses a refill mounted on a hair treatmentappliance having a fixing system that uses sliding of a T-sectionextension in a complementary slot of the appliance.

It may be desirable, for use in certain appliances, to have differentrefills available, notably exhibiting different fixing means.

According to a first of its aspects, the invention seeks to propose anew refill and achieves this by virtue of a refill for an appliance,notably a hair-shaping appliance, comprising a fixing means able tocollaborate with a complimentary member belonging to a receivingstructure of the appliance, the fixing means of the refill comprisingtwo profile elements able to engage in an insertion guide of thereceiving structure and between them defining a space in which one ormore members of the appliance are able to engage in order to performadditional functions where appropriate.

The use of two profile elements makes it possible to achieve goodretention of the refill on the appliance and to have a space between thetwo profile elements in which space one or more members of the appliancecan engage.

Preferably, the refill extends along a longitudinal axis.

Preferably, the profile elements extend in the direction of insertion ofthe refill as it is fitted into the appliance, and advantageously alongthe longitudinal axis of the refill. This allows effective retention ofthe refill along its entire length.

Preferably, the fixing means has the overall shape of a T slotted in itsmiddle, the slot corresponding to the space situated between the twoprofile elements.

Preferably, one of the profile elements comprises, at its rear end, ahook-shaped retaining projection that is intended to engage with a clipof the appliance in order to keep the refill in position thereon.

What is meant by the “rear end” is the end of the profile element thatis intended to be first to engage in the insertion guide of thereceiving structure as the refill is being fixed to the receivingstructure.

Preferably, one of the profile elements, notably the one that does nothave the aforementioned retaining projection, has at its rear end apositioning finger to make the refill easier to position when it isbeing inserted into the appliance. The positioning finger may bechamfered to make it easier to engage in the insertion guide of theappliance. The chamfer may be situated on the opposite edge to theretaining projection.

Preferably, the retaining projection is longer than the positioningfinger.

Preferably, the positioning finger is not as wide as the profile elementfrom which it extends. The positioning finger may, where it meets theprofile element, have a discontinuity on the same side as the retainingprojection.

Preferably, the opposite edge of the finger to the retaining projectionis situated in the continuation of the edge of the profile element fromwhich it extends.

The refill may be made of a plastic, notably of PET, PBT, PP, PC, POM,SAN or PA6,6, particularly of PET, PBT or PA 6,6. PC, PET, PBT, PP andPA6,6 are very well able to withstand the thermal stresses that may beapplied to the refill.

The refill may comprise a member for applying a product, preferablycosmetic, notably a felt. The felt may be impregnated with cosmeticproduct.

As an alternative, it is possible for the refill not to have anapplicator member. Such a refill may make it possible to use theappliance without any product being applied or may allow the user him orherself to insert into the refill an applicator member, for example onepreviously impregnated with a product.

Preferably, the refill comprises a mobile element capable of moving froman inactive position in which the element is set back from the spacebetween the two profile elements into an active position in which thiselement projects into said space. The mobile element may move from theinactive position into the active position when the refill is firstfitted to the appliance, such that the active position of the mobileelement constitutes an indicator as to whether or not the refill hasbeen used. Such a mobile element also acts as a memory regarding the useof the refill.

The mobile element may be embodied in various ways. For example, theelement is a pin that is able to move with friction in a correspondinghousing in the refill, so as to maintain the active position once it hasbeen brought into the latter.

The mobile element may be molded together with the fixing means, notablybeing connected to the latter by a severable bridge of material that isintended to become broken during the transition of said element from theinactive position to the active position, or by a deformable connectingpart. The mobile element is for example a hook molded with one of theabovementioned profile elements, said hook being designed to besnap-fastened in the active position to the other profile element. Thehook may comprise an end part which catches in a corresponding housingof the other profile element.

The connecting part is for example a film hinge or a severable bridge ofmaterial.

In one variant, the mobile element may alternatively be embodied in theform of a hook articulated on the body of the refill.

Another subject of the invention is an assembly comprising a refillaccording to the first aspect of the invention described hereinabove andan appliance designed to accept the refill, the appliance comprising arefill receiving structure comprising an insertion guide into which thetwo profile elements engage when the refill is fitted to the receivingstructure of the appliance.

Preferably, the insertion guide is designed such that the refill isfitted and removed by way of a sliding movement along the guide. Theinsertion guide may form a guideway and the profile elements may formrails sliding in the guideway as the refill is fitted in the appliance.

Preferably, the refill comprises a mobile element as describedhereinabove and the receiving structure comprises on the one hand arelief positioned in such a way as to bring the mobile element from itsinactive position into its active position when the refill is firstfitted to the appliance, and on the other hand comprises a blockingmember arranged upstream of said relief in the direction of insertion ofthe refill and designed to collaborate with the mobile element so as toallow the mobile element to pass in the direction of removal of therefill and prevent the mobile element from passing in the direction offitting of the refill after the refill has been fitted for the firsttime.

The blocking member may be able to move between a first position inwhich the blocking member projects from the appliance in such a way asto intercept the mobile element in the active position when a refill isused on the appliance, and a second position that is at least partiallyretracted so as to allow the mobile element in the active position topass when a refill is used on the appliance, the blocking membercomprising a return member keeping it in the first position and beingdesigned to move, in the direction of removal of the refill, from itsfirst position into its second position under the action of the mobileelement so as to allow the mobile element to pass and being arranged soas to remain in the first position during insertion of the refill so asto prevent the passing of the mobile element in the active position. Theblocking member may be a spring wire or a movable part on which a springacts.

It is possible for the blocking member not to be symmetrical withrespect to a median plane perpendicular to the direction of travel ofsaid element in contact therewith.

Thus, the blocking member may have contact surfaces for contact withsaid element that have different inlet and outlet slopes, having aninlet slope steeper than an outlet slope, the inlet slope preventing thepassage of said element in the active position by forming a stop thatprevents the travel of said element, and the outlet slope allowing saidelement to engage with the blocking member so as to cause it to retractwhen said element passes in the direction of removal of the refill. Theblocking member is overcome in one direction by said element.

As an alternative, the blocking member is an immobile relief projectinginto the space when the refill is fitted to the appliance, the mobileelement being designed to move from its active position toward itsinactive position under the action of the blocking member in thedirection of removal of the refill and being designed to maintain itsactive position in the direction of fitting of the refill after therefill has been fitted for the first time, so as to prevent the blockingmember from moving into the space between the two profiles. It ispossible for the blocking member not to be symmetrical with respect to amedian plane perpendicular to the direction of travel of said element incontact therewith. Thus, the blocking member may have contact surfacesfor contact with said element that have different inlet and outletslopes, having an inlet slope steeper than an outlet slope, the inletslope preventing the passage of said element in the active position byforming a stop that prevents the travel of said element, and the outletslope allowing said element to engage with the blocking member so as tocause the mobile element to retract when said element passes in thedirection of removal of the refill. The blocking member is overcome inone direction by said mobile element.

The appliance preferably comprises a contactor actuated by the refillwhen the refill is fitted to the appliance so as to detect the presenceof this refill on the appliance. This contactor is preferably situatedupstream of the abovementioned blocking member so as to be actuatedprior to the blocking of the refill during the introduction thereof, inthe case of a refill that has already been used. The appliance may havea second contactor which is actuated only once insertion of the refillis complete.

The refill preferably includes a cosmetic product, the applianceadvantageously being intended to treat the hair.

The appliance has for example two arms, also referred to as members,that are joined by a hinge, the refill receiving structure being formedon one of the arms.

Preferably, the appliance comprises at least one heating plate intendedto come into contact with the hair, notably when the arms of theappliance are closed.

Another subject of the invention is an article for an appliance, notablyan appliance for shaping the hair, comprising a fixing means able tocollaborate with a complimentary member of a receiving structure of theappliance, the article fixing means comprising two profile elements ableto engage in an insertion guide of the receiving structure and betweenthem defining a space in which one or more members of the appliance areable to engage, the appliance comprising a contactor to detect a refillas described hereinabove when the refill is mounted on the receivingstructure of the appliance, the article being designed to actuate thecontactor of the appliance.

Such an article makes it possible to simulate the presence of a refillon the appliance. Such an article notably makes it possible for the userto use the appliance in its refill-present mode operation without arefill of cosmetic product being inserted in the appliance.

Preferably, the article does not contain any cosmetic product. Thus, theuser can use the appliance with all of its functionalities apart fromthe application of product.

Preferably, while the article is being fixed to the receiving structure,the presence of the fixing means is detected by the detection element.

Preferably, the article is able to be inserted into and removed from thedevice more than once. In particular, the article has the sameconfiguration between its insertion into and removal from the device.The article preferably does not have a mobile element as describedhereinabove and does not engage with the blocking member. Thus, theblocking member cannot prevent the reinsertion of the article, which maybe used as many times as necessary. This is because, in the absence ofcosmetic product, it is not necessary to prevent the reinsertion of thearticle.

Preferably, the article is configured so that it occupies thecorresponding space on the receiving structure, as a refill would.

Preferably, the article has an appearance substantially identical tothat of a refill, except that it does not contain a cosmetic product.

Preferably, the article is configured not to come into contact with thelock of hair treated by the device and/or with a pressing element of thedevice when the device is being used to treat the hair.

Preferably, the article is made of a thermoplastic material such as PET,PBT, PA6,6, PP, POM, PC or SAN, notably PET, PBT or PA6,6.

Another subject of the invention is an assembly comprising an article asdescribed hereinabove and an appliance designed to accept a refill asdescribed hereinabove, the appliance comprising a refill receivingstructure comprising an insertion guide into which the two profileelements engage when the refill is fitted to the receiving structure ofthe appliance.

According to a second of its aspects, the invention relates to a refillfor an appliance, notably a hair-shaping appliance, comprising:

-   -   two profile elements that engage in an insertion guide of the        receiving structure along which the refill moves when it is        fitted on the appliance and when it is removed from the latter,        and    -   a mobile element acting as a memory of use, capable of moving        from an inactive position in which the element is set back from        a space between the two profile elements into an active position        in which this element projects into said space, said element        being intercepted by a blocking member of the receiving        structure passing between the two profile elements when it is in        the active position, during insert fitting of the refill into        the receiving structure and removal thereof therefrom, the        mobile element serving as a memory of use, being arranged in        such a way that the blocking member can be overcome by said        element in the direction of removal of the refill and that the        blocking member opposes the passage of said element in the        direction of insertion of the refill, if an attempt is made to        reinsert a refill that has already been used.

The invention makes it possible, notably for reasons of hygiene, inparticular when the appliance is used to successively treat differentpeople, to prevent the reuse of a refill that has previously been fittedon the appliance and then removed.

Another subject of the invention is an assembly comprising a refillaccording to the second aspect of the invention described hereinaboveand an appliance, designed for using the refill, the appliance having arefill receiving structure having an insertion guide in which theprofile elements engage when the refill is fitted and along which therefill travels when it is fitted on the appliance and when it is removedtherefrom, the receiving structure having a relief that is positioned soas to act on the element acting as a memory of use of the refill whenthe refill is fitted on the appliance for the first time, so as to causeit to pass from its inactive position to its active position, and ablocking member disposed so as to enter the space between the twoprofile elements and intercept said element when the latter is in theactive position, while the refill is being fitted in and removed fromthe receiving structure, the element and the blocking member beingdesigned such that the blocking member can be overcome by said elementin the direction of removal of the refill and such that the blockingmember prevents said element from passing in the direction of insertionof the refill, if an attempt is made to reinsert a refill that hasalready been used.

The invention makes it possible to block the fitting of the refill in asimple and effective manner if the latter has previously been used onthe appliance.

All the refill and assembly features described hereinabove in connectionwith the first aspect of the invention can be applied to this secondaspect of the invention.

According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a refill for anappliance, notably for shaping the hair, comprising a fixing means forattachment to a receiving structure of the appliance comprising twoprofile elements able to engage in an insertion guide of the receivingstructure, along which the refill moves when being fitted to theappliance and when being removed therefrom, the refill being somethingother than a refill for an appliance, notably an appliance for shapingthe hair, comprising

-   -   two profile elements that engage in an insertion guide of the        receiving structure along which the refill moves when it is        fitted on the appliance and when it is removed from the latter,        and    -   a mobile element acting as a memory of use, capable of moving        from an inactive position in which the element is set back from        a space between the two profile elements into an active position        in which this element projects into said space, said element        being intercepted by a blocking member of the receiving        structure passing between the two profile elements when it is in        the active position, during insert fitting of the refill into        the receiving structure and removal thereof therefrom, the        mobile element being arranged in such a way that the blocking        member can be overcome by said element in the direction of        removal of the refill and that the blocking member opposes the        passage of said element in the direction of insertion of the        refill, if an attempt is made to reinsert a refill that has        already been used.

Another subject of the invention is an assembly comprising a refillaccording to the third aspect of the invention described hereinabove andan appliance designed to use the refill, the appliance comprising arefill receiving structure comprising an insertion guide into which theprofile elements engage when the refill is fitted.

All the refill and assembly features described hereinabove in connectionwith the first aspect of the invention can be applied to this thirdaspect of the invention.

The invention may be understood better from reading the followingdetailed description of nonlimiting illustrative embodiments thereof andfrom studying the appended drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically shows a perspective view of an example of anappliance, with the refill fitted,

FIG. 2 shows the appliance of FIG. 1 with the refill absent,

FIG. 3 shows part of the appliance of FIG. 2, with the cover of theupper arm removed,

FIG. 4 schematically shows a partial view of an example of a refill,

FIG. 5A schematically illustrates a perspective view of an alternativeform of refill,

FIG. 5B is a view in cross section on VB-VB of FIG. 5A,

FIG. 5C schematically illustrates a perspective view of an alternativeform of refill, after the refill has been used,

FIG. 5D is a view in cross section on VD-VD of FIG. 5C,

FIGS. 6A and 6B show side views of the refill of FIG. 4, before andafter use on the appliance, respectively,

FIG. 7 schematically shows a perspective view of an alternative form ofrefill according to the invention,

FIG. 8 is a schematic in longitudinal section of the refill of FIG. 7,

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate the change in configuration of the refill ofFIG. 8, before and after the use thereof,

FIG. 10 is an example of an algorithm that can be implemented during theoperation of the appliance,

FIG. 11 shows, very schematically, the electronic circuit of theappliance,

FIG. 12 schematically shows a perspective view of an alternative form ofrefill according to the invention, and

FIG. 13 schematically depicts an example of an article.

In the example illustrated in the figures, the appliance 1 to which theinvention applies is a straightening iron, having two arms 2, 3 that areconnected by an articulation 4 and carry heating elements 5, 6 onopposing faces of the arms. These elements 5 and 6 make up straighteningplates.

This appliance 1 takes a refill 10 which is fixed to one of the arms,next to one of the heating elements, in this case the upper arm 2 andthe heating element 5.

The refill 10, shown on its own in FIG. 4, has a body 11 which containsa product to be applied, in this case a cosmetic product to be appliedto the hair.

The refill 10 also has an application means 13 for applying thisproduct, such as a felt, for example, which comes into contact with thehair while the appliance is being used.

The refill 10 has a means 12 for fixing it to a receiving structure ofthe appliance, only a part of which has been shown in FIG. 2.

The product contained in the refill can be applied to the hair as thelatter passes between the arms.

In the example in question, the means for fixing the refill to theappliance has two profile elements 14 and 15, which are inserted intoguideway elements provided on the corresponding arm.

The appliance has for example three guideway elements 17, 18 and 19 thatare intended to cooperate with the upper profile element 15, and twoguideway elements 20 and 21 that are intended to cooperate with thelower profile element 14, when the refill 10 is fitted on the appliance.

The refill 10 may comprise a hook 23 extending from the rear end of oneof the two profile elements 14 or 15 and intended to cooperate with aclip 24 in order to hold the refill in position, this hook 23 being forexample snap-fastened in the clip 24 at the end of its insertion intothe appliance, and being able to be withdrawn therefrom by a mechanismof the push/pull type or the like.

The appliance has an electrical contactor 26 which is actuated by therefill 20 when the latter is present, and which makes it possible toindicate whether the refill is present. This contactor comprises a lever26 a against which a seal 26 b may press, said seal itself beingactuated by a pusher 26 c.

The appliance 1 has a blocking member 30, the role of which is tocooperate with a mobile element 33 of the refill 10 that serves as amemory of use.

The blocking member 30 is returned elastically by a leaf spring 31 inthis example and has, at the front, an edge 34 substantiallyperpendicular to the plane of the wall 35 to which the guideway elementsare attached, and, at the rear, a less steep edge 37.

The blocking member 30 is disposed for example through a slot 36 in thewall 35 and can retract when the element 33 passes in the direction ofremoval of the refill.

In the example in question, the mobile element 33 is in the form of apin which is mounted as a friction fit in a corresponding housing 42 inthe upper profile element 15, as can be seen in FIGS. 5A and 5B.

The element 33, the initial inactive position of which is shown in FIGS.5A and 5B, does not project into the space 43 defined between the twoprofile elements 14 and 15 before the refill is used for the first time,as can be seen in FIGS. 5B and 6A, notably.

The appliance 1 has a relief designed to move the element 33 when therefill 10 is fitted on the appliance for the first time.

In the example in question, this relief is formed by a ramp 45 of theguideway element 18 situated at the rear edge 37 of the blocking member30. Thus, when the profile elements 14 and 15 slide in the guidewayelements when the refill is used for the first time, the ramp 45 ispressed progressively against the element 33 and pushes it into itshousing 42.

The element 33 thus projects into the space 43 between the profileelements 14 and 15, as illustrated in FIG. 5D.

The blocking member 30 engages between the profile elements 14 and 15when the refill 10 is fitted on the appliance. Thus, during theinsertion of the refill 10, the blocking member 30 sweeps over the zoneinto which the element 33 extends once in the active position as shownin FIGS. 5C and 5D.

The slope of the rear edge 37 of the blocking member 30 is chosen suchthat the element 33 can deform the blocking member 30 during the removalof the refill in order to retract and pass over said blocking member 30.

The pusher 26 c which acts on the contactor 26 is situated upstream ofthe blocking member 30 with regard to the direction of introduction ofthe refill 10 into the appliance 1. Thus, the contactor 26 is actuatedeven before the blocking member 30 exerts its possible action ofblocking the insertion of the cartridge.

The assembly formed by the refill and the appliance operates as follows.

The first time the refill 10 is fitted on the appliance, the ramp 45causes the element 33 to move from the position of FIGS. 5A and 5B tothat of FIGS. 5C and 5D. This change in position takes place when theelement 33 has already passed over the front edge 34 of the blockingmember 30, on account of the offset between this edge 34 and the ramp 45in the direction of insertion of the refill 10. The blocking member 30therefore does not impede the fitting of the refill 10.

During the removal of the latter, the element 33 can pass over theblocking member 30 on account of the slope of the rear edge 37 thereof.

However, if an attempt is made to refit the refill, the element 33 buttsagainst the front edge 34 of the blocking member 30 on account of theincreased slope of this front edge 34, which prevents it from beingpassed over by the element 33. Therefore, the user cannot reuse therefill.

The element 33 that serves as a memory of use can be embodied in variousother ways and other than with the aid of a pin that is able to movewith friction in a housing, as has just been described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 6B.

It is thus possible, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9B, to embody theelement 33 in the form of a hook, comprising an end part 53 whichcatches in a housing 51 of the lower profile element 14 and a connectingpart 52 which connects the end part 53 to the body of the refill. Thisembodiment makes it possible to form the element 33 by molding it in onepiece with the profile elements 14 and 15 and the body of the refill 10.

When the refill 10 is fitted for the first time, the ramp 45 of theappliance presses against the element 33, for example at the elbowformed between the parts 52 and 53 of the element 33, and the part 53can be snap-fastened in the housing 51, as illustrated in FIG. 9B.

The path followed by the blocking member 30 relative to the refill 10while the latter is being fitted is shown by way of a broken line inthis figure.

FIG. 9A shows that, in the initial position, which corresponds to thatof FIGS. 7 and 8, before the refill is used for the first time, the endpart 53 is situated above the path of the blocking member 30 andtherefore does not impede the fitting of the refill. In the activeposition, as illustrated in FIG. 9B, once the end part 53 has beensnap-fastened in the housing 51, it can butt against the blockingelement 30.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, the refill may also comprise, extending fromthe rear end of the profile element 14 or 15 that does not bear the hook23, a positioning finger 80 making it easier for the profile elements 14and 15 to be positioned with respect to the guideway elements 17 to 19of the appliance during insertion of the refill in the insertion guide.

This positioning finger 80 may have a chamfer 82 on its opposite edge tothe hook 23. Such a chamfer 82 makes positioning even easier.

The finger 80 may also, where it meets the profile element 14, form adiscontinuity 84 on the same side as the hook 23, the finger 80 beingsmaller in width than the profile element 14 from which it extends. Thusthe refill 10 has, between the finger 80 and the hook 23, a space 86which is wider than the space between the two profile elements 14 and15. Such a space 86 makes it easier to attach the hook 23 to the clip ofthe corresponding appliance.

The hook 23 may extend further to the rear than the positioning finger80 so that the latter does not impede the snap-fastening of the hook 23onto the clip 24.

The refill 10 may be replaced by an article, as depicted for example inFIG. 13, having the same structure as the refill 10 except for theelement serving as a memory of use and for the cosmetic product, whichit does not have. Thus, when it is fixed to the device in the same wayas a refill 10, the article acts on the detection element 26 in the sameway as the refill 10 would.

As an alternative, the article may have a different structure than therefill. For example, the article does not have the felt, the housingnormally provided for the latter on refills being open or closed. Thearticle may be a part that does not come into contact with the hair orthe pressing element when the arms are closed but acts on the detectionelement in order to be detected as a refill.

The article may be made from a different material than the refill.

The appliance 1 has an electronic circuit 100, shown schematically inFIG. 10, which has an electronic memory 101, for example of the EEPROMtype. This electronic circuit 100 is connected to the contactor 26 whichis actuated while the refill 10 is being fitted on the appliance. It isalso connected to at least one electrical resistor 102 for steamproduction, to one or more electrical resistors 103 for heating theelements 5, 6, and to one or more temperature sensors 104 that make itpossible, for example, to know the temperature of the plates.

A switch 105, for example of the reed switch type, makes it possible toknow the closed or open state of the appliance. The switch 105 isdisposed for example on one of the arms and a magnet is disposed on theother of the arms so as to change the state of the switch 105 when thetwo arms 2, 3 are in the closed position. The switch 105 makes itpossible to inform the electronic circuit 100 of the number of closuresof the arms. The electronic circuit 100 is designed to be connected by apower cable 106 to the AC mains, for example the 110 V or 240 V mains.

The electronic circuit 100 may be in the form of one or more boards,some of which may be disposed in the handpiece and others of which maybe disposed in the base station when the appliance has such a basestation, which serves for steam production by containing for example awater reservoir and a pump.

The electronic circuit 100 has at least one component such as amicrocontroller, programmed to execute an algorithm controlling theoperation of the appliance, preferably in accordance with the diagram inFIG. 11.

The electronic circuit 100 is powered when the cable 106 is connected tothe electric mains and can detect fitting of the refill when theappliance is switched off. The step 201 of connecting the cable 106 ofthe appliance to the mains makes it possible, in a step 202, to detect,by virtue of a contactor 26, the possible insertion of the refill 10prior to the appliance 1 being switched on, in step 203, by pressing acorresponding button.

If the insertion of the refill is detected in step 202, then a variableILS_nbr representative of the number of closures of the arms isinitialized in step 204, even though the appliance 1 has not yet beenstarted up.

When the appliance is switched on, in step 203, a detection of thepresence of the refill is carried out in step 205. If the refill has notbeen fitted, which corresponds to the branch 206 in the diagram, thevariable ILS_nbr is initialized in step 207 and the operation of theappliance 1 is effected in the downgraded mode, this being schematicallyindicated by the block 208 in FIG. 10. In this downgraded mode, thetemperature is predefined so as to be non-adjustable, for example set tothe value of 180° C., the generation of steam is prevented and cannot beactivated, and the corresponding state is signaled to the user, forexample by the flashing of an LED or the emission of an audible signal.

The appliance 1 remains in this downgraded mode until a refill ispossibly inserted in step 209, in which case the appliance operates in anon-downgraded mode, depicted by the block 210 in FIG. 10, in which thetemperature can be adjusted by the user, starting from a default valuestored in the memory, which corresponds to the last use value in thenon-downgraded mode. The steam generator is activated and thecorresponding state is signaled to the user for example by theabovementioned LED being illuminated in a non-flashing manner.

In the non-downgraded mode, the electronic circuit 100 detects theclosure of the arms 2, 3 on the locks treated in step 211, so as toincrement the variable ILS_nbr by a quantity representative of thenumber of closures. In order to save memory space, this variable ispreferably incremented every n closures, where n=5, for example. Thus,every 5 closures, the variable ILS_nbr is incremented by 5 units.

In step 211, it is also possible to allow the user to modify thesetpoint heating temperature of the plates. The quantity of waterremaining for the generation of steam can be detected in order totrigger a corresponding alarm, if need be.

In step 212, a check is made as to whether the variable ILS_nbr is lessthan a predefined threshold nl, where n1=160, for example. If thevariable ILS_nbr is less than n1, the cosmetic composition in the refillis considered not to have been used up and the appliance 1 can continueto operate in the non-downgraded mode, as is indicated schematically bythe branch 213 in FIG. 11. If the value of the variable ILS_nbr becomesgreater than or equal to the threshold n1, as is depicted by the branch215, the appliance passes back into the downgraded mode, correspondingto the block 208 in FIG. 11. The setpoint heating temperature of theplates thus returns to the predefined value of the downgraded mode, theoperation of the steam generator is interrupted, and the correspondingstate is signaled by the display of the LED, which flashes.

If the appliance 1 is stopped without its power supply being cut, thisbeing shown schematically in step 216, and the appliance is then startedin step 217, the stored value of the variable ILS_nbr is read in step218. If this value is less than the threshold n1, as is depicted by thebranch 219 in FIG. 10, the appliance maintains the non-downgraded modedepicted by the block 210. If the stored value of the variable ILS_nbris greater than or equal to the threshold n1, the appliance passes intothe downgraded mode, as is depicted by the branch 221 and the block 208.

If, when the appliance is on, the user removes the refill, as isdepicted by the branch 220 and step 223, the variable ILS_nbr isreinitialized in step 224 and the appliance 1 passes into the downgradedmode.

Preferably, the appliance 1 is designed, in the event of a prolongedperiod of non-use, that is to say without closures of the arms 2, 3being detected, to pass into sleep mode in step 230, until the on buttonis pressed in step 210.

The block 231 schematically indicates the case in which the appliance 1is disconnected, in which case, when it is reconnected, the algorithm inFIG. 10 returns to step 201 described above.

Returning to the test in step 205, if the appliance 1 is started in step203 with the refill 10 already fitted, this corresponding to the branch234 in FIG. 10, the value of the variable ILS_nbr is read in step 235and this value is compared with a second threshold n2, which isdifferent from the threshold n1 and notably less than the latter. Thethreshold n2 is equal to 20, for example. If the value of the variableILS_nbr is greater than or equal to n2, the appliance passes into thedowngraded mode in step 208. This thus avoids operating the device inthe non-downgraded mode if the user has disconnected and thenreconnected the appliance with an already significant number of openingsand closures of the arms, it being probable that the user has started touse the refill and has then allowed a non-negligible period of time topass before resuming treatment, since disconnecting the appliancefrequently implies that it has been put away. In the case of uses thatare excessively spaced apart in time, the cosmetic composition containedin the refill is likely to evaporate, resulting in reduced effectivenessof the refill.

If the variable ILS_nbr is strictly less than the second threshold n2,the appliance can operate in the non-downgraded mode, corresponding tothe branch 237 and the block 210 in FIG. 11.

The invention is not limited to the algorithm illustrated.

It may notably be advantageous to count not just the number of closuresof the arms but also the duration of closure of the arms on the hair,which may be representative of the length of locks treated. This canmake it possible to determine more exactly the degree to which thecosmetic composition within the refill has been used up and thus tosignal the need to replace the refill more precisely to the user.

In order to determine the duration of closure of the arms, theelectronic circuit 100 of the appliance is advantageously provided witha clock 110, shown by way of dotted lines in FIG. 10, preferablyprovided with a battery for saving the data in a clock memory.

In the example in question, the downgraded mode corresponds to operationwithout the steam generator and at a predefined temperature of theheating plates.

In variant embodiments of the invention, the downgraded mode isdifferent and corresponds for example to operation still with apossibility of adjusting the temperature of the heating plates, thispreferably being more limited than in the presence of steam.

In a variant that is not illustrated, the appliance is designed suchthat it can identify the nature of the fitted refill, by virtue forexample of one or more reliefs on the refill which encode informationwhich is read by one or more corresponding contactors present on theappliance. In this case, it is possible to modify the threshold values,notably the first threshold n1, depending on the nature of the refill,for example in order to take into account the fact that the cosmeticcomposition is used up differently from one refill to another dependingon the nature thereof.

It is also possible, in a variant, to store the duration for which arefill is present on the corresponding arm. This can notably make itpossible to force the appliance to pass into the downgraded mode beyonda certain duration in order to avoid a situation in which the usercarries out a treatment with a refill, the cosmetic composition of whichmay have lost its effectiveness on account of its evaporating, forexample.

Needless to say, the invention is not limited to the examples that havejust been described.

The element 33 is produced for example by being molded together with theadjacent profile element, being connected thereto by one or moreseverable bridges of material. Once in the active position, the element33 can be held only by friction or, alternatively, by snap-fastening inthe profile element opposite.

Although the invention has been illustrated in connection with a refillfitted on the appliance by a sliding movement, the invention alsoapplies to refills that are fitted by a movement other than just asliding movement, for example a rotational movement or a more complexmovement including translational and rotational components, for example.

The blocking member 30 may also be produced as a plastics part that isarticulated about a pivot axis and is returned to its initial positionby a coil spring.

The shape of the profile of the cartridge may be different from theoverall T shape illustrated, and the element 33 can be moved in someother way than in the spatial direction defined between the two profileelements; for example, it can be moved in a direction parallel to thestem of the T.

If need be, the presence of the element 33 in the active position, thatis to say after the cartridge has already been used, can be detectedautomatically if an attempt is made to fit the cartridge on theappliance, by virtue for example of a mechanical or optical sensor, inorder to signal the reason for which the refill cannot be fitted to theuser, for example by a message being displayed on a screen or by anindicator light being illuminated.

1. A refill for an appliance the refill comprising a fixing means ableto collaborate with a complimentary member belonging to a receivingstructure of the appliance, the fixing means of the refill comprisingtwo profile elements able to engage in an insertion guide of thereceiving structure and between them defining a space in which one ormore members of the appliance are able to engage, one of the profileelements comprising, at its rear end, a hook-shaped retaining projectionthat is intended to engage with a clip of the appliance in order to keepthe refill in position thereon, the other of the profile elements havingat its rear end a positioning finger to make the refill easier toposition when it is being inserted into the appliance.
 2. The refill asclaimed in claim 1, the profile elements extending in the direction ofinsertion of the refill as it is fitted into the appliance.
 3. Therefill as claimed in claim 1, extending along a longitudinal axis, andthe profile elements extending along said longitudinal axis of therefill.
 4. The refill as claimed in claim 1, the fixing means having incross section the overall shape of a T slotted in its middle.
 5. Therefill as claimed in claim 1, the positioning finger having a chamfer.6. The refill as claimed in claim 1, the retaining projection beinglonger than the positioning finger.
 7. The refill as claimed in claim 1,the refill being made of a plastic.
 8. The refill as claimed in claim 1,comprising an applicator member for applying a product.
 9. The refill asclaimed in claim 1, having no applicator member.
 10. The refill asclaimed in claim 1, the refill comprising a mobile element capable ofmoving from an inactive position in which the element is set back fromthe space between the two profile elements into an active position inwhich this element projects into said space.
 11. An article for anappliance, comprising a fixing means able to collaborate with acomplimentary fixing means situated on a receiving structure belongingto the appliance, the refill fixing means comprising two profileelements able to engage in an insertion guide of the receiving structureand between them defining a space in which one or more members of theappliance are able to engage, one of the profile elements comprising, atits rear end, a hook-shaped retaining projection that is intended toengage with a clip of the appliance in order to keep the refill inposition thereon, the other of the profile elements having at its rearend a positioning finger to make the refill easier to position when itis being inserted into the appliance, the appliance comprising acontactor to detect a refill as claimed in claim 1 when one is mountedon the receiving structure of the appliance, the article being designedto not actuate the contactor of the appliance.
 12. An assemblycomprising a refill as claimed in claim 1 and an appliance designed toaccept the refill, the appliance comprising a refill receiving structurecomprising an insertion guide into which the two profile elements engagewhen the refill is fitted to the receiving structure of the appliance.13. The assembly as claimed in claim 12, the insertion guide beingdesigned such that the refill is fitted and removed by way of a slidingmovement along the guide.
 14. The assembly as claimed in claim 13, theinsertion guide forming a guideway and the profile elements formingrails sliding in the guideway as the refill is fitted on the appliance.15. The assembly as claimed in claim 12, the refill being as claimed inclaim 12, and the receiving structure comprising on the one hand arelief positioned in such a way as to bring the mobile element from itsinactive position into its active position when the refill is firstfitted to the appliance, and on the other hand comprising a blockingmember arranged upstream of said relief in the direction of insertion ofthe refill and designed to collaborate with the mobile element so as toallow the mobile element to pass in the direction of removal of therefill and prevent the mobile element from passing in the direction offitting of the refill after the refillhas been fitted for the firsttime.
 16. The assembly as claimed in claim 15, the mobile element beingconnected to one of the profile elements by a severable bridge ofmaterial that is intended to become broken during the transition fromthe inactive position to the active position.
 17. The assembly asclaimed in claim 15, the mobile element being a hook molded with one ofthe profile elements, designed to be snap-fastened in the activeposition to the other profile element.
 18. The assembly as claimed inclaim 15, the blocking member being able to move between a firstposition in which the blocking member projects from the appliance insuch a way as to intercept the mobile element in the active positionwhen a refill is used on the appliance, and a second position that is atleast partially retracted so as to allow the mobile element in theactive position to pass when a refill is used on the appliance, theblocking member comprising a return member keeping it in the firstposition and being designed to move, in the direction of removal of therefill, from its first position into its second position under theaction of the mobile element so as to allow the mobile element to passand being arranged so as to remain in the first position duringinsertion of the refill so as to prevent the passing of the mobileelement in the active position.
 19. The assembly as claimed in claim 15,the blocking member being an immobile relief projecting into the spacewhen the refill is fitted to the appliance, the mobile element beingdesigned to move from its active position toward its inactive positionunder the action of the blocking member in the direction of removal ofthe refill and being designed to maintain its active position in thedirection of fitting of the refill after the refill has been fitted forthe first time, so as to prevent the blocking member from moving intothe space between the two profiles.
 20. The assembly as claimed in claim12, the appliance comprising a contactor actuated by the refill when itis fitted to the appliance so as to detect the presence of the refill onthe appliance.
 21. The assembly as claimed in claim 12, the appliancebeing an appliance for treating hair.
 22. The assembly as claimed inclaim 21, the appliance comprising two arms that are joined by a hinge,the refill receiving structure being formed on one of the arms.